Frank yoerger



F. YOERGER 1,896,932

IGNITION COIL Filed Nov. 2, 1932 IN VEN TOR.

BY/ 2A 36 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1933` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK YOERGER, OF REG() PARK, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC., OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK IGNITION COIL Application filed November 2, 1932. Serial No. 640,915.

My invention relates to ignition coils such as used in the ignition systems of internal combustion engines, and particularly to ig nition vcoils of the switch lock type wherein the coil is provided with mea-ns to receive a lock controlled switch.

Devices of the above character are quite extensively used to prevent unauthorized use of automobiles, and there are several types. However, the coil structures are practically the same in each type and the insulating members to which the fixed contacts are secured are usually of the same diameter. The collars which surround the coils and insulatingr members to provide a housing on the coil for the lock switches are also generally of the same diameter, but the depth oi' the housing, that is, the distance between the insulating member to which the fixed contacts are secured and the end of the collars, is not the same on all coils. Now the life of the coils is not generally as great as the life of the switch locks and since repair of coils is not practical, they must be replaced from time to time, and, of course, the new coil must have a switch lock housing of the proper depth tok establish operative relation of the contacts connected with the coil and those on the switch. Due to the fact that the coils vary in the depth of the switch lock housings tixedly secured thereon by the manufacturers, stores, shops and garages selling replacement coils must carry a large stock of practically identical coils dixering onlyin the depths of the switch lock housings in oider that they may accommodate their customers, and if the repair man or shop happens not to have al coil with a housing to accommodate a particular switch lock he loses a sale and the customer may be seriously inconvenienced.

With the 'foregoing in mind, the principal object of my present invention is to cbviate the production of diiierent sized switch housings or sockets on coils and to make it possible for repairmen and dealers to carry in stock coils provided with a standard sized switch housing or socket by providing means to readily adapt the standard sized socket to the reception of different sized switch locks without diminishing the eiliciency of the combined structures.

Generally stated, my invention resides in the provision of a body of insulating material provided with electrical contacts corresponding in location and relative arrangement to the fixed contacts of the coil, with means on the body for properly locating its contacts relative to the coil contacts and preventing relative movement` between said contacts while permitting relative movement between the contacts cn the disc and those on the vswitch to establish the coil in and out ot electric circuit of the ignition system in usual manner.

The complete objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood after considering the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein,

Fig. l is a plan view looking at the end of an ignition coil with a switch lock housing applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment ot the invention showing an adapter constructed in accordance with my invention for use in connection with the coil shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of adapter for use in connection with the coil of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a coil showing the adapter applied thereto with a fragment of the switch in dash and dot lines;

Fig. is a perspective view of the adapter shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a coil having secured thereto another form of contact block with the switch housing shown in section;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another form of adapter for use in connection with the contact block of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. l and 4, the numeral 10 designates the casing of an ignition coil, on one end of which is mounted an insulating block or disc 1l. Around the end of the cas ing 10 and the block 11 is mounted a metallic sleeve l2 rigidly connected to the coil casing' as by spot welding'.- The sleeve 12 projects beyond the block 11 to provide in connection therewith asocket or housing for a switch lock, not shown, the sleeve 12 having at its outer end tangs 13 to engage with the y ilar coils differing only in the depth of the switch lock socket.

The insulating disc 11 which is attached to the coil, or in some instances to the sleeve 12 at a predetermined point therein, in the instance shown 'in Fig. 1 is of a known type, wherein the outer face of the block has an upstanding annular rib 14 providing a central depression 15 and an annular channel 16 adjacent 'the sleeve'12. Contacts 17 are embedded in or secured to the upstanding rib 14, and as shown in Fig. 4, the electrically connected as by leads 18 with the windings of the coil. Usually there are three contacts in number, and in the form shown in Fig. 1, each contact has a laterallyprojecting V portion 19 extending into the channel 16. Also, in the form shown in Fig. 1, the rib 14 is formed with two radially projecting lugs 20 extending into the channel 16. I wish it understood that in accordance with my invention all coils may be provided with sleeves 12 having their outer ends spaced from the discs 11 a uniform distance to properly accommodate switch locks of the deepest dimension, so that the contacts carried by the switch lock, such as designated by the numeral 21 in Fig.`4, when the said lock is inserted in and joined to the sleeve 12 will abut the contacts 17 whenthe switch is turned to operative position to establish the coil in circuit with the ignition system. As previously mentioned, there are other switchlocks or lesser depths and for which a special depth of socket has heretofore been provided by the manufacture. To eliminate the necessity of producing and selling coils having diii'erent depths of lock sockets, I provide adapters such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for the deepest sockets in the type of coil shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 5, there is a disc 22 of insulating material of any suitable character, and of a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the sleeve 12. Extending partly around the disc is a depending annular rib 23 interrupted at predetermined intervals by the notches 24 and an arc 25. 'Ihe disc 22 is also provided with a central aperture 26 of substantially the same dimension as the recess 15 for registry therewith, and the width of the rib 23 is substantially the same as the width of the channel or groove 16 for insertion therein. Furthermore, the notches 24 are provided through the rib 23 at intervals corresponding to the location of the contacts 17 on rib 14, and directly in line with the notches and at the same relative intervals on the disc 22 as the contacts 17 are located on the disc11, I provide contacts 27 which may be in the nature of rivets of good electrically conductingv metal extending through and projecting slightly beyond the faces of the disc 22.

Assuming that an automobile is equipped with a switch lock of a depth of say 5/8 to fit a socket of the same depth on a coil, and that the coil must be replaced, obviously under existing conditions a coil having a socket measuring W3 in depth'from the top of the rib 14 to the end ofthe sleeve 12 must be obtained. I a coil having a socket of this depth is not readily available, there naturally results delay and inconvenience in making Y the repair or replacement until the coil having the socket is obtained, for if the lock of 5/8 depth is inserted in a socket say of 7/8 depth, which we will assume accommodates switch locks 0I" the greatest length, there will be a gap between the switch contacts and contact 17 preventing establishment of a circuitthrough a coil. However, my invention makes it possibleto make coils having a socket of a deptn to accommodate locks of the greatest length, and under the circumstances stated above, if a coil with a socket W8 length is available it could be readily adapted to the 5/8 lock by inserting a disc 22 which would be of such a thickness that when the rib 23 is located within the channel 16 with the extensions 19 on the contacts 17 disposed in the notches 24 and the arc 25 spanning the lugs 20, and the top of the disc with the tops of the contacts 27 jfrom the end of the sleeve 12 a circuit may be established. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 4 and the dimensions above given are of course merely illustrative. It will further be noted, viewing Fig. 4, that with the eXten- Vsions 19 disposed in the notches 24 the contacts 27 are resting on the contacts 17 and il' s uiiicient depth to extend to the contacts 17, A and, of course, sincethe contacts 27 are of i? conducting material and resting against the contacts 17, the coil may be established in and out of circuit with the ignition system when the movable contacts 21 engage and disengage the contacts 27.

Whereas, in Fig. 2, I have shown notches 24 extending inwardly from the edge of the disc and cut through the entire thickness of the disc, in Fig. 3 I have shown a modification wherein, I dispense with cutting of the notches all the way through the disc and provide a completely circular disc 22 of insulating material with a rib 23 at the ends of which are formed recesses 28 and intermediate the ends of the rib 23 there is formed a recess 29. These recesses are of suiicient depth to accommodate the extensions 19 in the same manner that the recesses 24 do and are spaced at the same relative intervals. Of course, the disc 22 has contacts 27 at the same relative intervals as the contacts 27. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, I provide a depending lug 30 at a point relative to the recesses 28 and lugs 2() such that when the disc is inserted into the coil housing of the type shown in Fig. 1, the lug 30 will be disposed between the lugs 20 to facilitate positioning of the disc and further cooperating in locking the adapter disc against rotation relative to the disc 11. The relative thickness of the disc 22', and its dimensions of course will be the same as explained illustratively in connection with Fig. 2 and no further detailed explanation will be given.

Referring now to Fig. 6, I have shown a sleeve 12 similar to the sleeve 12 secured to the casing of the coil and in this instance the disc 31 carries fixed contacts 17 electrically connected with the windings of the coil as explained in connection with the contacts 17. The disc 31 has a plain flat upper face with the contacts 17 Hush therewith, and is shown provided with a central recess 15 similar to the recess 15, of Fig. 1. However, the ends 18 of the lead wires coming from the coil are usually soldered to the upper face of the contact blocks and when so joined project slightly thereabove. An adapter for association with the coil shown in Fig. 6 is illustrated in Fig. 7, and comprises a plain disc of insulating material 32 having fixed contacts 33, similar to contacts 27 and 27', extending therethrough, and in radial alinement with each of the contacts 33 there may be provided openings 34, it being understood that the contacts 33 are spaced at relative intervals such that each will abut a contact 17 of the coil when the disc is properly inserted in the lock switch socket. When the disc 32 is correctly positioned on the disc 31, which is when the projection 36 enters the opening 35, the ends 18 of the wires will be located within the openings 34, whereby the contacts 33 will rest on contacts 17 and the disc 32 will not be held above the disc 31 by the ends 18 of the wires. Furthermore, ortions of the contacts 17 will be visible t rough the openings 34 and will disclose that the contacts 33 register with the contacts 17 In order to lock or maintain the disc 32 against rotary movement relative to the disc 31 and to facilitate proper positioning of the disc 32, I may provide a recess 35 in the disc 31 and a pin or projection 36 at a corresponding point on the disc 32 to enter the recess 35 when the disc is inserted.

I wish it to be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawing are purely illustrative and that regardless of the-con` struction of the insulating member on the coil or in the sleeve, I may make the adapter of such a form and under such a construction and arrangement that its contacts will register with the contacts on the said member when the adapter has been properly inserted to bring the parts which prevent relative rotary movement between the two discs into interlocking engagement. Furthermore, I do not wish to be limited to the use of any particular material of which the adapter may be constructed, as any insulating material will do, nor do I wish to be limited to the use of rivets in providing the contacts on vthe adapter as any element of good conducting metallic material secured to the adapter in any manner may be employed.

In Figs. 1 and 6, I have shown secured to the coil socket sleeves, a flanged memberf37 having outwardly projecting lugs with openings therethrough for the reception of screws to fasten the coil to a supporting surface in known manner.

I claim:

1. In an ignition coil having a housing for a movable switch and contacts electrically connected with the coil and lixedly mounted in the housing for cooperation with movable contacts on the switch, a disc of insulating material in said housing and having fixed contacts extending' therethrough, and means on said disc and a part of the housing to maintain said contacts on the disc in engagement with said first contacts and in position for engagement by the movable contacts on the switch.

2. A new article of manufacture for use with an ignition coil having a housing to receive ay switch and an insulating member forming part of said housing and supporting contacts electrically connected with the coil, a body of insulating material having contacts mounted therethrough to engage the contacts on the said member, and cooperating means on said body and a part of the housing preventing relative rotation between said body and member when said body has been inserted in said housing with its contacts engaging the contacts on the member.

3. A new article of manufacture for use with an ignition coil having a housing to receive a switch and an insulating member forming part of said housing and supporting contacts electrically connected with the coil, a body of insulating material having contacts mounted therethrough to engage the contacts on the saidcmember, and means on the body and member engageable upon proper insertion of the body into the housing with the contacts on said body and member engaging to prevent relative rotary movement n between said contacts and to maintain them in engagement.

4. A device for use with an ignition coil having a switch socket and to adapt the socket to operative reception of a switch of lesser length than the socket, and in which the switch has movement to make and break an electric circuit including the coil through fixed contacts electrically connected with the coil, comprising a` disc of insulating material, electrical contacts Xedly mounted on said disc and having faces exposed on both sides of said disc for engagement with the c contacts of the coil and switch respectively, and interengageable formations on said disc and said socket constituting a guide to proper insertion of the disc in said socket and a bar to relative rotary movement between said contacts on the disc and coil.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein interengageable elements comprise a projection on the disc and a recess in a part of the socket to receive the projection.

V6. .The structure of claim 4 wherein the interengageable elements comprise at least *onel projection on a part of the socket and a recess in the disc to receive the projection.

FRANK YOERGER. 

